Record-breaking 15,438 Russian UAVs downed as Ukraine's air defense efficiency surges
Russian UAV with a warhead on Dnipro ice, February 2026 (Photo: Ukraine's National Police / Telegram)
Ukrainian defenders updated their record of downed enemy aerial targets in February as 15,438 Russian UAVs were eliminated on the line of combat contact and over Ukraine's cities, Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov reported on March 5.
He made this statement while publishing the verified results of units in the Army of Drones.Bonus program for February.
"For the second month in a row, our military is shooting down a record number of Shaheds," he wrote.
"The efficiency of sky protection is systematically growing."
In addition, in February, the Ukrainian military targeted 27,313 Russian invaders.
"This means 975 eliminated Russians every day," Fedorov emphasized.
Defense Forces eliminated 92,475 Russian soldiers in total over the winter. 88,898 invaders were hit in drone strikes, the rest — verified on video strikes by artillery, Minister clarified.
Fedorov reminded that destroying more soldiers than Russia mobilizes is one of the key strategic tasks for achieving the goals of the war.
On March 2, the Air Force reported that Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 massive combined enemy attacks during the winter.
Russia combined launches of strike UAVs and missiles of various types, trying to complicate the air situation, overload the air defense system, and deplete resources, the AFU Air Force emphasized.
At the same time, February became a month of "peak loads" — on Feb. 3, the enemy fired the largest number of missiles [71 - ed.] in a single strike for the entire winter, the Air Force reminded. Already on Feb. 26, Russia carried out a mass drone strike, using 420 UAVs in a single attack.
On March 3, AFU Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russian Shahed-type drones began flying at ultra-low altitudes. But the Defense Forces of Ukraine are countering the new enemy tactics.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
